Sharpening device for safety razor blades and the like



Oct. 27, 1931. J RHODES 1,829,060

SHARPENING DEVICE FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 4,1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR C7457 ,6. fi/wdw Oct. 27,1931. J RHODES1,829,060

SHARPENING DEVICE FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 4.1929 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOX Jay E. Ema/w Patented Oct. 27, 1931 JAYB. RHODES OE KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN SHARPENING DEVICE FOB SAFETY" RAZORBLADES THE LIKE Applicationfiled February 4, 1929. SerialNo. 337,326:

- i The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a sharpening device for safety; razor blades and thelike'which, while easily'manipulated, is very eflicient and en- 6 ablesthe effective and uniform sharpening of the blade, even by unskilledpersons.

Second, to provide a sharpening device of this character whicheffectively prevents cutting ormutilation of the strap or other sharp-10 ening element. Third, to provide a sharpening device which is adaptedfor use with either flexible sharpening elements such as straps, ornon-flexible sharpening elements. I 15 Fourth, to provide a sharpeningdevice having these advantages which is very simple and economical instructure and at the same time the parts are strong and durable. Objectspertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitelyappear from the description to follow. The invention-is defined in theclaims.

A structure which embodies the features of 'myinvention is clearlyillustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a fragmentaryplan view of my sharpening device in operative relation to a sharpeningelement, the partsbeing in the position occupied when moved in thedirection indicated by thearrow.

Fig.2 is a side View withthe device shown at the end of its stroke tothe left by full lines, and the reverse movement occurring when moved tothe right indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a-detail section on aline correspending to line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the re lation of theblade to the roller and the sharpening element when the sharpeningstrokeis toward the left.

' Fig. 4 is a similar sectional viewshowing Fig. 8 is a members.

Fig.9 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6.- V

Fig. 10 is a detailsection on line 10-10 of Fig. 5. v i

Fig, 11 is a side view of one of the roller end members.

In the accompanyingidrawi-ngs 1 represents a razor strap but it will beunderstood that the sharpening elementmay' be of'any suitable character,either flexible or nonflexible. In the embodiment illustrated myimproved sharpening device comprises a handle 2 havinga spindle 3, thehandle being disposed axially of the spindle.

On this spindle I mount aroller' desigplan view of one of theholdernated generally by the numeral ,4. In the embodiment illustrated thiscomprises a barrel portion 5 and end portions6 whichare fitted-intonotches 7 in the end of the barrel portion and secured therein. Thesegend members have radially projecting ears '8. The segmental portions 9of the barrel are bent inwardly to retain the end members 6 and theirends 10 provide stops, the-purpose of which will appear later.

The cars 8 are provided with outwardly projecting pivots 1l.engagingthe. arms 12. of the U-shaped :blade carrier 13. This carrier isprovided with a blade holder consisting in the embodiment illustrated ofa pair of coacting members 14 and 15 adapted to receive and clamp ablade as16- The arms 12 of :the carrierare provided with opposed slots17 and-18, theslot 18 being formedwitha shoulder. 19, see F ig, 7. Theblade holder member l tis arranged through the slot 17 andprovided'witha lug 20 engaging the outer side of the arm. It is alsoprovided with a notch 21 which engages the shoulder 19 of the slot 18 sothat the holder member 14 constitutes a tie mem ber-for the carrier,retaining its arms in engagement withthe pivots 11, that'is, it preventstheir being sprung off the pivots.

The member15 is slidable in the slot 18 5 and constitutes a key orlocking member in that it prevents the disengagement of the member. 14from the shoulder 19. The-memher 15 is detachably engaged with theopposite slot 17 as indicated in Fig. 6.

The member 15 is provided with a keeper 22 which retains it in bladeholding position. This keeper is of such character as to coact with thestop 23 in preventing the complete removal of the member 15. Either thekeeper or the stop is formed after the member is inserted through theslot 18.

The member 15 is provided with blade engaging lugs 24 adapted to enterthe holes 25 present in certain well-known types of safety razor blades.The member is slotted at 26 to receive these lugs and permitlongitudinal movement of the member 15.

The blade holder is so positioned on the carrier that the blade issupported in the plane of the carrier pivots and with its edge adjacentto the roller. It will be observed that the pivots for the carrier areeccentric relative to the axis of the roller; that is, they aresubstantially spaced from the axis of the roller and disposed centrallyrelative to the stops 10 so that the swinging or rocking movement of thecarrier and roller relative'to each other is limited by these stops.

When the roller and carrier are in the position indicated in Figs. 3 and4 the roller acts as a support for the edge of the blade; that is, theblade may be deflected somewhat by pressing upon the strap as shown inFigs. 3 and 4:, which views, it will be understood, show the blade andsharpening device considerably exaggerated in size. The roller serves tolimit this deflection and supports the bladeso that the desired bevel ismaintained.

With the parts thus arranged, assuming that the device is placed uponthe strap with the carrier in advance of the roller, the initial forwardmovement will cause the roller to swing forwardly until the stops engagethe carrier and the carrier moves forwardly with the rear edge of theblade in engagement with the strap and, in the event of suflicientpressure, supported by the roller as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. On thereversal of the direction of stroke the edge of the blade is first swungaway from the strap and the carrier swung over the roller as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 2 until the carrier rests in front of the rollerand the opposite side of the blade is brought into coacting relation tothe strap. All that is necessary for the operator to do is to move thedevice backward and forward over the sharpening element with suiiicientdownward pressure to hold the device to the sharpening surface.

Owing to the relation of the edge of the blade that is being sharpenedto the roller, it

is quite impossible to distort the blade so as to round its edge insteadof sharpening it with the proper bevel, as the roller maintains theblade in proper relation to the sharpening element. even though thesharpening element f be loosely held or allowed to flex sharply aroundthe roller. It will be observed that the roller engages the strap inadvance of the blade so that a flat surface is presented to the blade.

The blade is so supported that immediately on the beginning of reversingmovement, its edge is swung away from the sharpening element, and it isquite impossible to cut or mutilate the sharpening element. The parts ofmy improved sharpening device are very simple in structure and easilyassembled, and there are no parts that are likely to become broken orworn with ordinary use. The blades may be quickly inserted or removedand when in the holder are protected so that the operator cannot beinjured by the ordinary manipulation of the device.

I have illustrated and described m improvements in an embodiment whichhave found highly satisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate ordescribe certain embodiments or adaptations as I believe this disclosurewill enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvementsas may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sharpening device, the combination with a handle of a spindlecarried by said handle, the handle being disposed axially of thespindle, aroller rotatable on the spindle and notched at its ends toprovide spaced stops at each end and provided with radial pivot lugsdisposed centrally relative to said stops, and a blade carrier pivotallymounted on said lugs and provided witha blade holder arranged to supporta blade substantially in the plane of the axis of the carrier pivots andwith its edge to be sharpened in lapping relation to the roller when thecarriage is in en gagement with the roller stops.

2. In a sharpening device, the combination with a handle, of a spindlecarried by said handle, the handle being disposed axially of thespindle, a roller rotatable on the spindle and notched at its ends toprovide spaced stops at each end and provided with radial pivot lugsdisposed centrally relative to said stops, and a blade carrier pivotallymounted on said lugs in radially spaced relation to the axis of thespindle to coact with said stops and provided with a blade holder.

In a blade sharpening device, the combination with a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted on said handle, a blade carrier pivotally mounted onsaid roller, the carrier pivots being disposed eccentrically relative tothe axis of the roller, and coacting stops on said roller and carrierpositioned so that the periphery of the roller constitutes a support forthe edge of the blade being sharpened when the carrier is moved acrossthe surface of a sharpening element and the carrier is reversed andswung to a position in advance of the rolleron the reversing of thestroke.

4. In a sharpening device, the combination of a rotatably mountedroller,-a blade carrier pivotally mounted on said roller, the axis ofthe blade carrier being spaced from the axis of the roller, and stops onsaid roller limiting the swinging movement of the carrier and rollerrelative to each other, said pivots for said carrier constituting itssole connection to said roller whereby rotative movement of the rollerresulting from engagement thereof with a surface will swing the carrierto a position in advance of the roller and rotation of the roller in theopposite direction will first lift the edge of the blade being sharpenedfrom the surface and then reverse the position of the carrier.

5. In a blade sharpener, the combination with a handle, of a rollerrotabably mounted on said handle and provided with pivots radiallyspaced from its axis, a U-shaped carrier having its arms engaged withsaid pivots, the arms of said carrier having opposed slots therein, oneof the slots being shouldered, a blade holder comprising a pair ofholder members, one of whichis provided with a lug at one end engaged inone of the slots and with a notch at its other end engaged with theshoulder of the other slot, said member constituting a tie member forsaid carrier and having upwardly projecting studs thereon adapted toengage a blade, and a second holder member slidable in one of said slotsto detachably engage the other.

6. In a blade sharpener, the combination with a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted on said handle and provided with radially disposedperipherally projecting lugs, the ends of the roller being notched toprovide stops spaced uniformly relative to sand lugs, said lugs beingprovided with outwardly projecting pivots, a U-shaped carrier having itsarms engaged with saidpivots on said lugs to coact with said stops, anda blade holder on said carrier.

7. In a blade sharpener, the combination with a handle, of a rollerrotatably mounted on said handle and provided with radially disposedperipherally projecting lugs, a U- shaped carrier having its armspivoted on said lugs, the arms of said carrier having opposed slotstherein, one of the slots being shouldered, a blade holder comprisingapair of holder members, one of which is provided with a lug at one endengaged in one of said slots and with a notch at its other end engagedwith the shoulder of the other slot, and a second member slidable insaid shouldered slot to detachably engage the other.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAY B. RHODES.

